Feb 23 - Tombstone, AZ

   Wow! Tombstone territory.  It turns out the town of Tombstone, AZ is only 25 minutes from our RV park.  We knew it would be very touristy, but decided to check it out.  Actually, the bartender from last night works at the GoodEnough Silver Mine giving tours, and suggested it.  There are several pedestrian streets, from the original, actual heyday of the Tombstone era.  It is renowned for its gunfights, gambling halls, brothels and bars.  It was a silver mining town of great wealth, during the decade known as "The Roarin' '80's" .  By 1881, due to the influx of miners and businesses, Tombstone's population reached 10,000, making it the largest town in Arizona.  It is estimated that these mines produced around $25.5 Million of silver by 1899.  However, when the silver mines played out, the town emptied out.  Only in recent years, has it been revived as a Tourist attraction.
  We walked the streets a bit, then did a Trolley ride tour of the area.  The driver was very knowledgeable about the local history, and had many interesting stories to tell.  Including the stories of Wyatt Earp and his brothers, Doc Holiday, Bat Masterson, the shoot out at the OK coral, and the history of Boothill cemetery.    We then did the tour of the GoodEnough Silver Mine.  I had never been in a silver mine before, and our guide was extremely good.  The mine had several levels, going down to 400 feet in some areas.  We only went down three levels.  But the working conditions were amazing.  Only candles for light (they had three to last for a ten hour work day), only a hammer and chisel to dig the holes for the dynamite, moving all of the rocks by hand, etc.  They were well paid, BUT...  The amount of backbreaking labor was impressive.  The engineering issues of creating a mine, then getting the silver ore to be processed, and the processing, was impressive.  AND, they were doing this while in Apache territory, where they were engaged in fighting over the land.

Tombstone town photos:

GoodEnough Silver Mine Tour photos: